Sri Lanka-China clash in curtain-raiser of Singer Rugby Asiad

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

Host Nation Sri Lanka will confront China in the curtain-raiser of the Singer Rugby Asiad on November 3 (Saturday) at CR and FC Grounds, Longden Place.

Sri Lanka which is ranked number six in Asia has been drawn into Group ‘B’ along with Malaysia and China while Asia’s fourth ranked team Kazakhstan is in Group ‘A’ along with Chinese Taipei and Thailand.

These six nations will vie for honours in the Cup Championship while India and Pakistan along with the minnows of Asian rugby Qatar and Iran will battle it out in the Shield Championship in the Singer Rugby Asiad which will be worked off from November 3 to 10, 2007.

The matches will be played at CR and FC Grounds, Longden Place and Royal College Sports Complex with the finals scheduled for November 10 at Sugathadasa Stadium.

The winners of Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ will clash in the Cup Championship final while the runners-up of the two groups will battle it out in the Plate Championship final. The third placed teams of Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ will meet in the final of the Bowl Championship.

The President of the SLRFU DIG Nimal Lewke speaking at a press briefing held at Galadari Hotel said that Sri Lanka is hosting the Rugby Asiad after 17 years and it will also be the last Asiad as the format has been changed from next year.

Ten countries are taking part in this Asiad and he was grateful to Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona and Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda who took great pains to persuade them to take part in this tournament.

Keen competition can be expected in the Cup Championship of the tournament as all six teams - Sri Lanka, China, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Malaysia are equally balanced. The Sri Lanka rugby pool will be reduced to 30 by October 24.

The Marketing Director of Singer (Sri Lanka) Asitha Abeysekera said that the SLRFU has done a lot of work in making the Singer Rugby Asiad a reality. Singer is committed to promoting rugby in the country and will give its maximum support to make it a success. He hoped there will be packed crowds at all the matches which would encourage the players to give of their best.